The gender apartheid in Iran is a constant struggle and seems as though it is ever-changing. Men and women play very different roles in the Iranian society. Since Iran is a theocracy, the government's laws revolve around the rules of the Islamic religion. Today, gender determines what clothes you must wear, what work you can do, and how successful you could become, as well as your safety, freedom, and protection. There is a clear border between men and women in Iran, and staying within these borders in an expectation. Crossing it can be considered very disrespectful and wrong, yet be an escape for safety and survival. In America, we may also see the border between men and women, but it is built by society and not by government. Crossing this border may be looked down upon by our judgmental and critical society, but is not associated with government. Because of our rights here in America, we have the freedom to dress the way we want to, and can not be punished for it or told it is right or wrong the way you are in Iran.
During the Islamic Revolution in 1979, it became obligatory to wear the veil. Some believed the veil made women vulnerable, while the government declared it was only civil to wear them and that it was for the protection of women. In the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Marji, around age ten at the time, and her mother, lived in Iran and protested the veil. They didn't disagree with the Islamic religion, but rather disagreed with the reasons in which they wear forced to wear the veil and practice the Islamic religion. Not long after, the way people dressed became ideological between fundamentalist and modern women, and fundamentalist and progressive men. Opposition demonstrations were how women defended their rights, although they often ended in threats and violence. Winning back rights and a greater role in society has been a struggle for women (Esfandiari).
"The reformist government ratified and the parliament approved the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). However, the Guardian Council rejected CEDAW, interpreting it as in contradiction with Islamic values" (Koolaee). In attempt to protect themselves and have opportunities in the work force, some women have crossed the gender border line and disguised themselves as men. Mojgan Shirazi, who runs a shelter for runaway girls in Tehran, says "When they're on the streets as girls, men cause problems. We had one girl here who said that when she was on the streets at night even the street sweeper preyed on her. As a boy, she was left alone" (Sciolino).
Men were granted the power to make all family decisions, including power over the women of the household/his wife, and control over the custody of his children. "Your wife, who is your possession, is in fact, your slave," is the Mullah’s (Muslim learned in Islamic theology and sacred law) legal view of women’s status. The misogyny by Mullahs made women the embodiment of sexual seduction and vice (Hughes). By dressing as and living the life of a male provides, women in Iran are able to achieve equality, respect and the right to participate in all social, political and economic activities. “Despite long, arduous hours of work and no legal protection, these women workers who are forced into the unofficial economy also play the main role in their families’ economic affairs... In addition, because female workers earn much less than their male counterparts, they have a better chance of being hired by employers. However, if the legislation to reduce working hours for female employees passes the parliament, employers would be less inclined to hire them because doing so would no longer be economically advantageous... Women workers in Iran suffer discrimination in the workplace. According to the official statistics, while Iranian women make up 27% of the workforce, they bear the main brunt of unemployment and layoffs. Many have to leave their jobs due to low wages, violence, unsuitable job conditions" (there are no legal protections for women) (Iranian Women Labor Woes).
Although Marji nor anyone we read about in Persepolis decided to dress as a man, it is an option that many Iranian women are fulfilling. If Marji's father had not had a good job, I believe this could have been something she looked into given her young age, her
potential intelligence/ability, and her families need for money.
Image from Persepolis, Marji's family watches as they announce the veil is obligatory.
Women are trying to make improvements to gender equality in Iran.
During the Islamic Revolution in 1979, it became obligatory to wear the veil. Some believed the veil made women vulnerable, while the government declared it was only civil to wear them and that it was for the protection of women. In the book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, Marji, around age ten at the time, and her mother, lived in Iran and protested the veil. They didn't disagree with the Islamic religion, but rather disagreed with the reasons in which they wear forced to wear the veil and practice the Islamic religion. Not long after, the way people dressed became ideological between fundamentalist and modern women, and fundamentalist and progressive men. Opposition demonstrations were how women defended their rights, although they often ended in threats and violence.
Winning back rights and a greater role in society has been a struggle for women (Esfandiari).
"The reformist government ratified and the parliament approved the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). However, the Guardian Council rejected CEDAW, interpreting it as in contradiction with Islamic values" (Koolaee). In attempt to protect themselves and have opportunities in the work force, some women have crossed the gender border line and disguised themselves as men. Mojgan Shirazi, who runs a shelter for runaway girls in Tehran, says "When they're on the streets as girls, men cause problems. We had one girl here who said that when she was on the streets at night even the street sweeper preyed on her. As a boy, she was left alone" (Sciolino).
Men were granted the power to make all family decisions, including power over the women of the household/his wife, and control over the custody of his children. "Your wife, who is your possession, is in fact, your slave," is the Mullah’s (Muslim learned in Islamic theology and sacred law) legal view of women’s status. The misogyny by Mullahs made women the embodiment of sexual seduction and vice (Hughes). By dressing as and living the life of a male provides, women in Iran are able to achieve equality, respect and the right to participate in all social, political and economic activities. “Despite long, arduous hours of work and no legal protection, these women workers who are forced into the unofficial economy also play the main role in their families’ economic affairs... In addition, because female workers earn much less than their male counterparts, they have a better chance of being hired by employers. However, if the legislation to reduce working hours for female employees passes the parliament, employers would be less inclined to hire them because doing so would no longer be economically advantageous... Women workers in Iran suffer discrimination in the workplace. According to the official statistics, while Iranian women make up 27% of the workforce, they bear the main brunt of unemployment and layoffs. Many have to leave their jobs due to low wages, violence, unsuitable job conditions" (there are no legal protections for women) (Iranian Women Labor Woes).
Although Marji nor anyone we read about in Persepolis decided to dress as a man, it is an option that many Iranian women are fulfilling. If Marji's father had not had a good job, I believe this could have been something she looked into given her young age, her
potential intelligence/ability, and her families need for money.
Sources:
http://iranprimer.usip.org/resource/womens-movement (Esfandiari)
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/khatami.htm (Hughes)
http://iranlaborreport.com/?p=895 (Iranian Women Labor Woes)
http://www.payvand.com/news/09/feb/1111.html (Koolaee)
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, United States: Pantheon Books, 2003. (Translation Copyright)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/19/international/middleeast/19IRAN.html (Sciolino)